She hadn’t seen a shadow demon before, but she’d heard enough stories to know that she never wanted to. They were the worst creatures in the four realms. They were death made visible and so Tavia couldn’t stop herself from grimacing at the mere mention of them.

Wesley saw it—he saw everything, even if he wasn’t looking at her—and so quickly he righted himself, adjusting those cuff links and putting on the smirk she hated.

“I didn’t see Ashwood much,” he said. “He probably thought that it was best to let Zekia wear me down. The lesser of two evils and all that. Plus he was busy destroying our city.”

“Is Creije really ready to fall?” Tavia asked.

Wesley nodded.

The rain soaked down Tavia’s legs.

She couldn’t stomach the thought.

“If we lose our home,” she said. “Then I…”

She trailed off, because she didn’t have an end to that sentence. If Creije was gone, then Tavia didn’t know what she would do.

“We won’t lose it,” Wesley said. “Ashwood might be good at being a murderous dictator, but I’m not so bad at it myself.”

“Trust you to make being a sociopath a competition,” Tavia said. “What if Creije is too far gone to save already? What if we don’t live to bring it back?”

“Skeht, Tavia,” he swore. “Can you try being a little more positive?”

“I’m just saying,” she said. “It’s not like we’re invincible.”

“You’re so morbid,” he scolded. “Trust me, it’s going to be fine. There isn’t a world where I’d ever let anyone hurt you. There isn’t a future that exists where you’re not okay. So drink your damn Cloverye and quit being such a huge downer on my first night.”

Tavia almost laughed, but as she looked at him the sound got caught in her throat. She’d just noticed, suddenly, without reason, how much browner Wesley’s eyes looked in the wake of lightning.

There isn’t a world where I’d ever let anyone hurt you.

Tavia’s breath disappeared somewhere deep in her chest as Wesley kept his gaze locked on hers, his face newly serious.

Wesley’s hand was sitting idly on the ground between them, and Tavia didn’t give herself the time to second-guess before she placed hers overtop.

“I’m so glad that you’re here,” she said.

Only, she didn’t know what to say next. Tavia had thought about the moment when she saw Wesley again, what she’d give to make it happen and what she’d do once it did, but now that he was here she forgot about every scenario she’d thought of.

She forgot everything but how beautiful he looked.

“Tavia,” he said.

Her name was magic on his lips, a spell that pulled her inward.

She wanted to kiss him.